Dangers of texting while driving revealed

Texting while driving causing more impairment that drinking and being high on drugs.

Travel Insurance News - 25/09/2008

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New research just published shows that almost one-half of all drivers under the age of 24 texts while driving. This disturbing information compounds the evidence demonstrating that this age group already comprises the most dangerous drivers of all.

A study conducted by the Royal Automobile Club Foundation found that approximately 5,000 texts per second are sent in the UK, and that, in addition to texting and talking, mobile phones are being used to surf the web and send photos.

The Foundation is strongly recommending an investment by the government in a well-publicised educational campaign that warns young drivers about the dangers of texting while driving. The objective of the campaign would be to raise awareness among younger drivers of the risks involved to themselves, their passengers and others who are also on the road.

This research on the dangers of texting while driving, which is the first to be conducted in the UK, was carried out at the Transport Research Laboratory, on their driving simulator. A group of 17-to-24-year-old motorists participated in the study, which looked at the impact of reading, sending and writing text messages while driving a car.

In all keys measures of driving performance, the participants in the study who were texting while driving were seriously impaired. Reaction times were reduced by one-third, on average, which is a more serious level of impairment that would be caused by the legal alcohol limit or driving under the influence of cannabis.

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